Nth. Canterbury Pioneer Is 99 Years Old Today

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30803, 15 July 1965, Page 8

Nth. Canterbury Pioneer Is 99 Years Old Today

One of the oldest residents of North Canterbury, Mr F. G. Horrell, of Horrelville, is 99 today. A son of John and Elizabeth Horrell, who arrived in one of the first four ships, the Charlote Jane, in 1850, Mr Hoi “ •

trrell is the oldest member of the New Zealand branch of the Horrell family, which is planning for a major family re-union in Southland in December.

A remarkably full life has been enjoyed by Mr Horrell, who was born on July 15, 1866, in the then unfinished family home at “Moore Barton,” Horrelville. The house still had no glass in the windows, while snow coated the surrounding countryside. The pioneer parents arrived with an infant son, Samuel, and after living at Lyttelton for a time, took up a 20-acre block in- the St. Albans-Papa-nui area. Later they moved to a 50-acre block at Woodend where John Horrell worked in the sawmills as well. In 1863 the pioneer couple took up a block at what is now known as Horrelville, naming the property “Moore Barton." The new property was worked from Woodend until 1865, when the family, then four girls and three boys, moved to “Moore Barton” and lived in a shed while a house was built.

In the next year the family moved into the partially completed house and it was there that Mr F. G. Horrell was born. Shifted to a new site and renovated, the house is still in use on the farm. During his long life, Mr Horrell has taken a keen interest in local body and business activities and today he sustains this interest by his reading of “The Press.” Helped Trees Grow Mr Horrell recalls that as a boy he played his part in sustaining the then young trees and fences on the farm, in particular the avenue of oak trees along the entrance drive, which he watered from his toy watering can. A foundation pupil of the West Eyreton School, Mr Horrell left school in 1880, but his attendance during the last two years was irregular as he was then helping with work on the farm. In 1877 his parents took up another block in the Waikato, about four miles from what is now Morrinsville. On leaving school, Mr Horrell joined his parents and some of his brothers and sisters at the North Island property “Te Miriii” while other members of the family remained at “Moore Barton.” Mr Horrell remained there for about 10 years, helping to cut the manuka scrub, draining and ploughing the rich soil.

Because of an illness to one of his brothers, Mr Horrell made what was to be a temporary return to “Moore Barton” in 1891, but the stay has been prolonged until the present time. In 1893 he married Sara Louisa Sheat, the second daughter of Mr and Mrs Steven Sheat, and they . had six children, with Mr J. E. Horrell being the only son. Wheat Growing

As a farmer Mr Horrell has made wheat growing his speciality and throughout the years he has introduced many new varieties to the locality, even to the extent of importing them from England. The Department of Agriculture and the Wheat Research Institute found him a willing helper, and since 1926, with the exception of the war years, variety and other trials have been set down at “Moore Barton.” He took a particular interest in the development of new varieties of Cross-7, Aotea, and Arawa.

Farmers’ politics gained the attention of Mr Horrell and representing the CustWest Eyreton branch he served on the North Canterbury provincial executive of the former Farmers’ Union and was provincial president in 1913. He was on the Dominion executive for a period also.

Mr Horrell has taken an interest in national politics also. A friend of the late Hon. W. F. Massey, Mr Horrell became president of the Canterbury-Westland division of the former Reform League. Although considerable pressure was put on Mr Horrell to stand for the former Kaiapoi electorate, he refused. Mr Horrell has given his time to local affairs as well. He was a member of the West Eyreton School Committee and its chairman for a period in the early 1900’s. He served on the Waimakariri-Ashley Water Supply Board, being chairman from 1900-1902. Mr Hor-

cell was a member of the former West Eyreton Road Board for a lengthy period before it was amalgamated with the Eyreton Road Board to become the Eyre County Council in 1912. Mr Horrell remained on the council until 1923, being chairman for nearly the last six years. Mr Horrell’s greatest contribution to local body work, however, was probably his work, in association with the late R. O. Dixon, for the formation of the Waimakariri River Trust, of which they were foundation members. Businessman Also

While farming has been Mr Korrell's main pursuit he has taken a lively interest in business concerns particularly those associated with primary products. He participated in the formation of the British New Zealand Meat Company and G. H. Scales. Ltd., and he is a shareholder of C.F.M., Ltd.

His major work in commercial activities was the formation of the North Canterbury Flour Milling Company, which later became the Zealandia Milling Company. Mr Horrell was a director of this from its inception and chairman of directors for many years. Mr Horrell has been active in church affairs. As a young man he began as an Anglican lay reader at Morrinsville. On his return to Canterbury he continued to regularly take services in the Oxford and Cust parishes until his health prevented him from doing so. For some years he was synodsman for the Cust parish. Christianity has not been merely an academic interest for Mr Horrell, and although he remains reticent there are those who appreciate the help he has given them in starting on a farm or in business by making an unsecured interest free loan. Although cropping has been the prominent feature on the Horrell farm, sheep have been run as a sideline since the beginning. When Mr Horrell was a child there were no dogs on the property and rounding up the siheep was a family chore. To Mr Horrell fell the task of heading the sheep and this early training probably contributed greatly to his later development as a fine athlete. He was unbeaten over the furlong, but the 880 yards remained his favoured event, and he competed against some of the leading amateur and professional runners of the period. He participated in other sports such as cricket, tennis and lacrosse and kept a greyhound for coursing.